01027: A Knee Is Not Enough

01/27/2025

Check out this great article from The Shoestring that breaks down the systemic problems with the Easthampton City Council

In a Wednesday City Council meeting, details from a year’s worth of conflicts bubbled to the surface. But the story goes back further than that.

11/09/2023

A Shoestring investigation of the incident has raised questions about whether the school has the required policies or staff regarding unenrollment.

11/06/2023

AKINE supports the following candidate for City Council.

This candidate support the following issues:
- career/ hisotry in child education or child emotional social behavioral development
- diversity and equitable access is important to them
- supports teachers needs
- past or current community involvement
- oppose book bans or censorship

Koni Denham
- As a city councilor has been consistent in her values - environment, LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC inclusion, community services.
- only council candidate who believes Eastahmpton doesn’t have to rely on large developers to build tax base, creative solutions to create affordable housing + public transit
- only council member to vote against EPD Tesla spending
- voted to keep Community Relations Committee seats
- not afraid to vote in opposition of other councilors to stay consistent to values

11/06/2023

AKINE supports the following candidates for School Committee.

These candidates support the following issues:
- career/ hisotry in child education or child emotional social behavioral development
- diversity and equitable access is important to them
- supports teachers needs
- past or current community involvement
- oppose book bans or censorship

Sam Hunter
- co-chair of special education parent advisory committee
- career in special education, social work, and public policy
- against book banning
- LGBTQIA + BIPOC inclusion and support is important to them
- currently works for the Department of Developmental Services, coordinates family support program for children with developmental disabilites at risk of residential placement

Ben Hersey
- career in public education, past 15 years at Holyoke Community College
- commitment to inclusive +supportive environment for LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, children with disabilities
- against book banning and censorship
- supports prioritizing teachers needs - reasorces and supports

Timothy St. John
- diversity, equity, inclusion are important to him
- against book bans
- led winter coat drive at the community center
- previous Behavior Management Specialist at Brightside Center for Children and Families - familiar with issues around institutionalized children
- willingness to embrace progress and change

Megan Harvey
- educator with a focus on public health and health sciences
- current School Committee member with procedural understanding
- supports equal and equitable access for all children - LGBTQIA, BIPOC, disabilities
- supports prioritizing educator needs as School Committee members

10/16/2023

HEADS-UP!

has come to our attention that a hate organization is once again spreading flyers around Easthampton.

Please be on the lookout for these and destroy them.
Please don’t share them or their contact information on social media.

The last thing we want to do is give them the attention and recruiting power that they are looking for.

09/29/2023

Hate to say we told you so but... we did tell you back in April.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiaIEPqm9m8
AKINE testimony at 54:24
City Council opens hearing 52:35

The Community Relations Committee is down to two active members, following the City Council's decision to reduce and ultimately de-prioritize the CRC. This was done in the name of creating a "functioning committee" by reducing membership numbers to create a lower number required to meet quorum. Quorum is required for voting and holding meetings.

The committee is now reaching out to former members of the CRC via email re-framing the problem they created as a problem that no one saw coming when they were told by AKINE members that their "solution" to cut required membership numbers wasn't even a band-aid.

Councilors who advanced the problem by voting on April 19th to cut required membership include, Owen Zaret, Brady Riley, Homar Gomez, Dan Rist, Thomas Peake, David Meunier, and James Kwiecinski.

Koni Denham was the only vote in opposition to the cut.

06/09/2023

Our Ca$happ got hacked!! Please decline and block any request

04/11/2023

Based on this meeting this is a failed search. Re-open the position.

04/10/2023

04/06/2023

During the pandemic, the current school administration oversaw a failure to provide food services to the most vulnerable and underserved children of our community.

News of this egregious oversight was received with very little public outcry from the community (click here for a reminder of some of the information that was publicly available and widely shared: http://bit.ly/3UedngE ).

However, when a White man identifies himself as a victim during a hiring process—for the highest paid position in the district—there is no shortage of community engagement, activism, and “moral” outrage.

It is time for the community to take accountability for their actions (or lack thereof) and reflect on who those actions are actually protecting.

10/01/2022

Join Yes on 4 for Safer Roads and Rep Lindsay Sabadosa for a canvass launch in Northampton on Sunday, October 2nd from 10:30am to 2pm!

08/10/2022

Community Event in Springfield this Saturday 8/13 🗳 Democracy Day

Image Description & Text: Red flyer with yellow heading “Join us for Democracy Day”. Learn about your voting rights, your rights as an immigrant and the new Driver’s License law, your rights as a student, your rights in a police interaction, how to talk to elected officials, and more! Saturday August 13th South Congregational Church parking lot- 45 Maple Street, 2-6pm. Info, food, fun. For more info, contact Tara at 413-214-5100. Brought to you by Pioneer Valley Project and the ACLU of Massachusetts.